Cricket World Cup: Australia and New Zealand ready for moment in the spotlight

Long before the Indian Premier League and Big Bash came to the fore, the Cricket World Cup provided an injection of colour, runs and action into the sport, and now it is back and ready to reclaim its crown.

In the last four years, the 50-over format of the game has taken a back seat as Twenty20 has continued to go from strength to strength, catching the attention of a new audience of cricket fans.

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Now, as the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand looms large, one-day cricket will bid to tap into that feel-good factor.

Four-time champions Australia go into the tournament ranked as the best ODI side in the world thanks to 13 wins out of 18 matches in the last 12 months, including their triumph in the recent tri-nation series with England and India.

Darren Lehmann's side have all the attributes to go far in the tournament with their explosive openers David Warner and Aaron Finch, followed by the elegant stroke play from Steve Smith, before Mitchell Johnson leads an impressive bowling attack.

However, just because you are ranked the best does not guarantee you victory, and the co-hosts will face plenty of other sides keen to stop them winning a first title on home soil.

Defending champions India are one of those sides, and with the explosive Rohit Sharma at the top of the order, their fans could be in for plenty of excitement.

Rohit is in sensational form ahead of their opening clash with fierce rivals Pakistan on Sunday, plundering a brisk 150 in their latest warm-up match with Afghanistan.

Many pundits have suggested that co-hosts New Zealand could be the surprise package over the six-week-long tournament, and fast bowler Tim Southee admits the levels of home support could give them an extra edge.

"We've played some great cricket leading up to now," he said. "People are getting behind the brand of cricket that we're playing. I think it's an exciting brand.

"The World Cup is a chance to get the country right in behind us.

"Hopefully we can do our part as cricketers over the next two months, and enjoy and embrace what a special time it's going to be."

Much will depend on the performances of Brendon McCullum, the 33-year-old is looking to build on a 12-month period that has seen him plundered 1,415 runs across all formats of the game.

However, there are many sides capable of booking a place in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29.

AB De Villiers is one of the hottest properties in cricket heading into the tournament, although South Africa will need more than him to fire if they are to upset the odds and claim a first World Cup title.

At the other end of the spectrum, are two-time winners West Indies, who capitulated against England recently and could be one of the sides the minnows are looking at for a potential surprise.

Somewhere in between are England, who appear to have put the Alastair Cook era quickly behind them with the evolution of a new dynamic team, and players who look at home in big run chases.

Whoever goes all the way will have had to cope with soaring temperatures, fast pitches and plenty of bounce if they are to lift the trophy at the MCG in six weeks' time.